IRLT completes ten year, $10 million project culminating in the protection of McKee Garden in perpetuity through a conservation easement held by IRLT.

2004

Environmental Land Bond Referendum

IRLT leads countywide effort for passage of $50 million bond referendum approved by 67% of voters to purchase land and easements to protect our natural, historic and agricultural land.

2005

IRLT researches and produces computerized map of Indian River County's most important environmentally sensitive lands.

2007

Gopher Tortoise Study - IRLT funds a study in the North Sebastian Conservation Area to determine tortoise populations, carrying capacities of the Preserve, and the potential for relocating tortoises displaced by development.

Protection of Treasure Hammock Ranch - IRLT initiates and facilitates county project to purchase a conservation easement on the 462-acre historic, working cattle ranch containing wetlands, native wildlife, and natural water filtration. This is the first true agricultural conservation easement in the State of Florida.

Protection of Padgett Creek Ranches - IRLT assists with county project to purchase conservation easements on more than 1,600 acres of environmentally significant working cattle ranchland containing the Padgett Branch, a critical waterway leading directly to Blue Cypress Lake and the St. John's River.

Initiated a multi-agency effort to establish and manage miles of trails and boardwalks through 187 acres of conservation lands along the Indian River Lagoon, including a 66-acre property owned by IRLT.

Acquired two parcels totaling eight acres along the Indian River Lagoon which will provide public access to a 50-acre block of publicly managed parcels of oak hammocks, dwindling native scrub forest and essential mangrove swamps, with beautiful views of the lagoon.

2010

August 2010 Historic Quay Dock Road

Purchased a 4 acre waterfront property.

November 2010 completed the purchase of Winter Beach Salt Marsh a 47-acre high salt marsh and mangrove swamp with a 1/4 mile of lagoon frontage adjacent to the Spoonbill Marsh conservation area. This acquisition doubles the protected area available to dozen of species of wading birds such as the threatened Roseate Spoonbill and Wood Stork.

2011

Purchased our largest pieces of conservation property in our 20 year history.

Bee Gum Point - The 111-acre property is one of the last undeveloped wetlands on the barrier island, containing a mile of lagoon shoreline. It situated along the Atlantic Flyway, a major corridor for millions of migrating birds each year, and will remain a natural area for conservation. This purchase was made possible with the Financial assistance of The Conservation Fund.

Coastal Oaks Preserve - This 185 acres located on the west side of the Indian River Lagoon contains tropical hammocks, wetlands and ponds, as well as a mile of Lagoon shoreline.

2012

Federal Grant - The Indian River Land Trust was awarded a one million dollar grant by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This grant, made available through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, was provided for completing the acquisition of Bee Gum Point.

Pine Island - The Land Trust accepted a donation of 130 acres of premier conservation land. This gift along with the acquisition of 60 acres in March 2012, assembles 190 acre block of significant wading bird habitat.

2013

Expansion of the Winter Beach Salt Marsh: In an effort to fully protect the Winter Beach Salt Marsh IRLT originally acquired in 2010, we added 5 acres and 1/4 mile of shoreline, expanding the property to 52 acres. Now, the IRLT's salt marsh properties and the County's adjoining Spoonbill Marsh north of Grand Harbor now make up a nearly 100 acre block of contiguous conservation lands with a mile of protected shoreline.

Purchased Bridge View Properties: The Land Trust acquired another 200+ acres and more than a mile of shoreline property in the spring. In two independent transactions, IRLT acquired a 56-acre and a 150-acre property. These two properties are a critical part of a two-mile stretch of green shoreline in full view from the Barber Bridge.

2014

Expansion of Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail conservation lands: July 2014: Through a three-way transaction between IRLT, Indian River County and the St. Johns River Water Management District, the IRLT was able to acquire 30 acres of publicly managed oak hammock, scrub and coastal wetlands. This ecologically significant property would have been sold by the State as "surplus" had IRLT not intervened.

December 2014: IRLT accepted the generous donation of an 11.6-acre property from Virginia and Warren Schwerin and family. This valuable property, located along Hwy U.S. 1, now serves as an important upland buffer to adjoining Lagoon-front property owned by IRLT and has expanded the conservation area to over 50 acres.

Expansion of Bridgeview Properties: The Land Trust purchased an additional 25 acres of maritime hammock, high salt marsh and mangrove forest in an effort to further protect the fully restored wetlands located on the 200+ acre Bridgeview Property.

Late November, acquired the final puzzle piece of the Lost Tree Island Archipelago. Van Busch Island, now named Cove Island is a 15 acre island a mile north of the Barber Bridge.

In late December, received a gift of 11.59 acres of property, generously donated by Virginia and Warren Schwerin, allowing the expansion of the Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail to more than 50 acres. This new parcel is buffer for critical coastal wetlands. The natural resources on both the property and the adjoining lands allow for a number of recreation, education and restoration options.

2015

Secured property to protect future access for the southern portion of Coastal Oaks Preserve. Purchased a 10 acre Lagoon front property as an anchor for the on the undeveloped coastline south of the Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail. IRT has been acquiring key private Lagoon front property on the barrier island in order to develop a two-mile recreational trail public trail. In partnership with the Mosquito Control District and St. Johns Water Management district IRLT has implemented a large scale hydrologic restoration project at Bee Gum Point. Our goal is to return a tidal connection between on-site wetlands and the adjacent Lagoon. Additionally, IRLT was awarded a grant to fully restore the Winter Beach Salt Marsh one of the last remnant high salt marsh in our county.

IRLT has been a critical partner in the establishment of the St. Sebastian River Greenway by developing the St. Sebastian River Greenway Plan, adopted by the Indian River County Board of Commissioners, and securing associated lands at risk with the goal of protecting a corridor of native habitat leading into the Indian River Lagoon.

Our Mission

Our mission is to promote the preservation, conservation and improvement of natural resources and special places in Indian River County, Florida for the benefit of the general public and future generations.